In a unanimous decision, the court decided in favor of Edward Lane, a former Alabama community college official who says he was fired after testifying at the criminal fraud trial of a state lawmaker.

Writing for the court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Lane’s testimony was constitutionally protected because he was speaking as a citizen on a matter of public concern —-even if it covered facts learned at work.

But the high court said the college’s former president [Steve Franks] is immune from damages under laws shielding public officials from lawsuits in their official capacity.

Government officials are generally protected from lawsuits seeking damages unless they violated the law or clearly established constitutional right.

In a private White House meeting Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch *McConnell*, R-Ky., pressed Obama about his definitive timetable for drawing down American [World Tyrant] troops [in Afghanistan], especially in light of the crisis in Iraq.